News We’re going to Dingleyland! Teams to move in mid 2025!

[Strapping Young Lad]

 

[Frankston Rover]

Love the idea. Though i guess we have to wait on all the due diligence stuff yet. I expect by the time that comes around, there'll be a clearer picture of our intentions.

We were always going to outgrow Waverley. Was surprised that 'someone' used to spruik that it would mean we had the best facilities in the league, would put us at at the top of tree, would be an investment for decades .... was so obviously short sighted, either in what they dared dream the Hawks would become, or the growing realities of what is truly required to be top notch in this game. Anyhoo ...

So much potential. This site will grow and evolve with us for decades. This is truly going to future proof us.

And I don't see why a boutique stadium or anything else should ever be off the agenda. Who's to say what we will be looking or thinking in next decade, or three. Nor would I dismiss the possibility of working towards an "arrangement" with the Saints to share some facilities (some games at our stadium), if the price was right.

Ooooh, I must try and stay focussed on the 4 points this week, and the real prize.

The issue I see with putting a boutique stadium at this facility is transport and parking.

If we built a 25,000 seat stadium at Dingley, the nearest stations are Westall and Springvale - a good 4km from the ground. That's not great and would mean most people would drive. Future freeway links have the potential to be excellent but that then means we would need to build a carpark to accomodate around 14-16,000 cars - a large chunk of our land.

I don't think that's what this development is about.

I reckon this will be our base that will allow us to grow but it will always be an administrative and training facility. Nothing more.

But it gives us the space to make it whatever we want. Two grounds, indoor training, swimming pools, gym, altitude chambers, running tracks, accomodation, huge administration, Hawks Nest shop, adequate parking for players and supporters - all in absolute privacy.

And as the land around us gets turned into housing - our land value goes through the roof.

Then we get the AFL to build us a boutique stadium.

 

[SHAKESPEARE]

They are currently working on the Dingley Bypass in that area, so I'm almost positive the tip next door is going.

Down the track it will also link up with the Mornington Peninsula Freeway.

I'd like to think that, given our current leadership, due dilligence has been done and the surrounding area - once quarries, tips and market gardens - will be regenerated into a more 'up-market' location. Considering the area is good enough for Kingston Heath and the Capital Golf Club, I trust the club will make the right choice.

https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/pla.../dingley-bypass-warrigal-road-to-westall-road

That proposed Dingley bypass is getting done right now!

Perfect timing

 

[rdhopkins2]

HFC will certainly lobby the state government to improve transport connections especially if we try and build a boutique stadium. We could also rent it out to other clubs ie. Saints for their low drawing interstate games also.

Exciting times at Hawthorn / Dingley ahead.

 

[cryptor]

Interesting to read about the indoor training facilities. Very exciting opportunity there in terms of what is possible. An indoor, fully-sized football oval that could simulate a whole range of match day/night experiences.

Things like wind machines to simulate different strength wind patterns, roof sprinklers to simulate rain (the water would of course be recycled), some sort of projection/display system that transforms otherwise blank walls into crowds of various sizes and supporter biases and speakers to simulate that 100k at the MCG roar.

Players could then train and practice their stoppages, goal kicking and "final 2 minutes" scenarios in an facility that simulates the most stressful, nerve wracking conditions and moments of games rather than doing it with just a few people walking their dogs around the oval.

Imagine the week before travelling over to WA our players could do some training in front of a 60k strong rabid, WA based crowd. Or a debuting player being able to get used to playing in front of a large crowd on the MCG so when he actually does play he isn't as over awed.

If feasible that would be world class and give our players a huge advantage in terms of their preparations.

 

[Demz]

will hawthorn have a similar thing like Essendon have, ( flight plan ) where people can donate to the club to help pay for the New stadium

 

[play2win]

Rusty. I believe you are referring to Kingwood Golf Club... Also in Dingley about 2 mins from the Din San site.

Kingswood was recently sold to Peninsula Golf Club For substantially more than $7mill, $125 million. It will continue trading as Kingswood for 3-5 years then it's being chopped up for housing.

I think RustyHawk reference was to Kingston Links Golf Club in Rowville just off the Eastern and the Wellington Rd exit (?) which was also sold to property developers recently. You're point probably still applies though with respect to the price/cost for that location too.

 

[Mighty P]

Not convinced on the location.
On an old tip, next to other tips, industrial areas, airport, Springvale and Noble Park.
By far the busiest train line after our games is Belgrave/Lilydale, then Glen Waverley, this new location is even further away from this main supporter base than Mulgrave. They say one of the reasons is to enable more supporter involvement - they're kidding themselves if they think people are going to go there.

It'll be hard if they don't build a train station in Dingley too.

I'm slightly concerned with the tips; luckily the Dingley tip doesn't smell as much as the Clayton landfill, the Clayton one reeks.

 

[play2win]

I think it is a great initiative and promises great things. I only have the one reservation in the announcement and that is the location with respect to old and existing landfill/tips. These sites can manifest into something quite ugly many years down the track with respect to soil and water degradation, and methane emissions. I hope the right people/experts are engaged to perform the appropriate due diligence, I wouldn't want the site to turn into a lemon a few years after such a massive expense is incurred.

 

[Frankston Rover]

I think RustyHawk reference was to Kingston Links Golf Club in Rowville just off the Eastern and the Wellington Rd exit (?) which was also sold to property developers recently. You're point probably still applies though with respect to the price/cost for that location too.

Really? I knew about Kingswood but is Kingston Links going too?

Do you have a link? Would be a shame.

 

[play2win]

Really? I knew about Kingswood but is Kingston Links going too?

Do you have a link? Would be a shame.

I don't have a link but I played there a couple months ago and was told. The property developers all went around the course in golf carts surveying the area at the time. Apparently the course will remain for another 3-5 years prior to any construction of housing developments commences.

 

[SHAKESPEARE]

I think it is a great initiative and promises great things. I only have the one reservation in the announcement and that is the location with respect to old and existing landfill/tips. These sites can manifest into something quite ugly many years down the track with respect to soil and water degradation, and methane emissions. I hope the right people/experts are engaged to perform the appropriate due diligence, I wouldn't want the site to turn into a lemon a few years after such a massive expense is incurred.

There is no way they will choose the land without the proper testing done.

 

[cryptor]

I think it is a great initiative and promises great things. I only have the one reservation in the announcement and that is the location with respect to old and existing landfill/tips. These sites can manifest into something quite ugly many years down the track with respect to soil and water degradation, and methane emissions. I hope the right people/experts are engaged to perform the appropriate due diligence, I wouldn't want the site to turn into a lemon a few years after such a massive expense is incurred.

Pretty sure the letter said something regarding soil testing and the purchase being conditional on that I believe.

 

[Mighty P]

Pretty sure the letter said something regarding soil testing and the purchase being conditional on that I believe.

That's the thing though, complications can arise many years later, the smell can come back after heavy rains, and hell, even sinkholes can appear.

 

[walhawk]

Please do not be a moron and suggest we will ever play games there.
That would be a huge loss maker and is not close to even being on the agenda.

 

[Gold Member]

That's the thing though, complications can arise many years later, the smell can come back after heavy rains, and hell, even sinkholes can appear.

Pretty sure that reclaimed tips now follow a set protocol of layering collecting and expulsion to ensure these issues and contained and managed...
There are landfills overseas where the methane is harvested to fuel electricity.

If anyone drives down Heatherton Rd about 200m to the east of Clayton Rd is a reclaimed tip and you can see the methane vent pipes poking up every 50m or so.
One of the reclaimed tips on Clayton Rd now has housing on it.
I wouldn't be stressing any of these environmental disaster type scenarios.

I'd be pretty sure that either a majority of the land in question is either not landfill or it has been reclaimed in sections up to 20-30 years ago.

 

[Brishawk]

That's the thing though, complications can arise many years later, the smell can come back after heavy rains, and hell, even sinkholes can appear.

How long has the site been left to fallow for? They built sporting and recreation facilities in Chelsea on the old tip without any issues.

 

[Flukey!]

This will place our club in a whole other league to every other club in the competition.
Even well ahead of what the WCE's have available to them.
It will be amazing and extremely clever of our club to have this level of foresight and planning.

Importantly, I think it can only help maintain the HFC as an absolute powerhouse for years to come.

 

[RJL Hawk]

This will place our club in a whole other league to every other club in the competition.
Even well ahead of what the WCE's have available to them.
It will be amazing and extremely clever of our club to have this level of foresight and planning.

Importantly, I think it can only help maintain the HFC as an absolute powerhouse for years to come.

West Coast's new facility looks great and is in a great location, only 7km from the CBD but...

• It's leased.
• Shared with Perth FC and the local community
• Only 9 hectares (half of which is shared)

http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/the-club/lathlain-park

WCE will grow out of it in 20 years, or earlier, much as we did with Waverley.

This new facility will put us way ahead. WCE will catch up because land and money is no problem of them but it's hard to see many of the Melbourne clubs catching up.

 

[Gralin]

Also it was a solid landfill for building waste so methane might not be an issue

 

[Agent Smith]

Imagine the week before travelling over to WA our players could do some training in front of a 60k strong rabid, WA based crowd.

If feasible that would be world class and give our players a huge advantage in terms of their preparations.

Well, we'd already have the tip smells to simulate the atmosphere. As for the actual look of the crowd, perhaps someone could do a large screen projection of the Lord of the Rings movies?

 

[Brishawk]

Also it was a solid landfill for building waste so methane might not be an issue

Methane concerns down. Asbestos concerns through the roof!

 

[Frankston Rover]

Methane concerns down. Asbestos concerns through the roof!

The players will be retired by the time that's an issue...

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

We will have the best facilities in the league.

 

[Gralin]

Newbold chat up on HFC
http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/club/our-future

 

[Gold Member]

will hawthorn have a similar thing like Essendon have, ( flight plan ) where people can donate to the club to help pay for the New stadium

I doubt it. When all is above board, you don't need to spend millions on lawyers.